Another Theory of the Universe: Wormhole

By Cristiana Voinea

In the third and also last book of the "Another Theory of the Universe" trilogy, "Wormhole", Hamsika will find herself in a race against time, by Lucien Royce's side, while attempting to find an escape from the impending doom they have been warned about. However, while being unable to get in contact with the cosmic siblings, the situation will gradually complicate itself, as more figures will dip their toes into forbidden waters.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Cristiana Voinea
• Release date: Aug 15, 2020
• ISBN: 9781005605858

Cristiana Voinea

Cristiana Voinea is a self-published author, "Another Theory of the Universe" being her first published book. She works as a concept artist for a video game company, developing her own stories and characters in her free time.

Book preview

Another Theory of the Universe

Wormhole

Copyright 2020 Cristiana Voinea

Published by Cristiana Voinea at Smashwords

Smashwords Edition License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your enjoyment only, then please return to Smashwords.com or your favorite retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Table of Contents

Chapter I

Chapter II

Chapter III

Chapter IV

Chapter V

Chapter VI

Chapter VII

Chapter VIII

Chapter IX

Chapter X

Chapter XI

Chapter XII

Epilogue

About the Author

Connect with the Author

Chapter I

Hamsika checked few times the address given in the email while being in the cab, on the way to the very destination. It wasn’t the Royce Robotics she was accustomed to, unless they opened new offices, even though from as much as she knew, they closed departments rather than putting together anything new. Despite the fact that she didn’t set foot on any property that belonged to the corporation ever since she was done with her internship and all the madness that surrounded it, she still heard a thing or two from people at the university, where she kept on studying for the next three years after the event.

There were quite displeasing memories connected to her time at Royce Robotics, but there were also good things that happened there; lots of experience gathered, even in that short amount of time, and surely there was the very interaction with the best people working in the field. But considering that now her studies were over and she was ought to start and search for a place to begin her scientific activities into, she thought that it was for the best to check out the sudden offer, coming from a place she hardly considered alive anymore, at least in her field, since nobody seemed to speak of it anymore. Ever since the secrets of the undergrounds of the company had been spilled out, there was a sudden silence regarding Royce Robotics’ involvement in space tech and exploration. But perhaps things began to move again, at the possibly new offices she was invited to for a talk.

However, just as she checked her phone app to see how much was left of her way to the destination, she noticed being actually really close to it, only that, when she glanced outside, instead of seeing a business area, filled with tall, glass covered towers, she discovered in fact a residential area. She frowned a bit at the view and decided to check, for what was perhaps the fifth time, the address in the email, assuring herself that it was the right one.

There had been no error indeed. Just as she left the car and closed the door, she caught glimpse of the name written next to the number of the house: Royce. She felt herself frozen in place, despite the heat outside, her feet becoming one with the concrete beneath her. The only thing she managed to do was to check the hour on her phone, which told her she was five minutes early, thing that made her ponder whether if she should wait until the right hour came, or if perhaps she was ought to go and knock at the door that instant. Of course, the third option of calling another cab that’d take her some place else crossed her mind, even though she knew she replied the email, accepting the invitation; and knowing Royce, she had been already spotted, standing there, unable to make a decision, in front of his house. She closed her eyes for a moment, and with a deep breath decided to step over her heart and whatever thoughts linked the man to the unpleasant events of the past, and make her way to the final destination, check on whatever he had to say to her.

Hamsika knocked few times at the door, but as no answer came after quite a waiting time, she decided to ring, though she despised doing it, finding it in general incredibly disturbing. There had been still no answer from the other side, but a beeping noise and a clank indicated that the door unlocked. She gave it a weird look, then grabbed the handle and made her way in cautiously, being hit rightaway by the cold breeze of the air conditioning, sending her a shiver through the entire body.

„A moment!" she heard a voice, coming from a distance.

She couldn’t tell if it was from upstairs, or just somewhere further, still on the ground floor. A thing was for sure; it was the unmistakeable voice of Lucien Royce. As she waited for the other, she made few steps down the hallway, catching a glimpse of the open space; a mix of grey tones, hard surfaces, raw materials and sharp angles, alike the outside of the building itself, all scented with a mildly sweet smell, which reminded her of peach.

She turned around the slightest at the sound of footsteps coming down some stairs nearby, which she couldn’t see, since they were most probably around the corner; one she didn’t dare to pass by just yet.

„My apologies for the wait," he said as he finally came from around the corner, setting eyes on the other. He fell silent for a moment, taking in the sight mindfully, while Hamsika stared back at him wide eyed and mildly panicked, feeling like a lamb in the wolf’s den.

Please, come in, he guided her inside the living room, where there was a black couch with two assorted armchairs, in front of a coffee table and a large wall mounted Tv, above the fireplace.

Quite sure you’d like a drink? Outside is so hot. I have cold water. I suppose you’re not up for a stronger drink and I don’t keep coffee in the house, he added in a rapid rant, almost silent enough to be addressed only to himself, to which Hamsika only agreed with a shy smile and a small nod.

She watched him leave, towards where the kitchen was perhaps, and couldn’t help but wonder what in the world happened meanwhile, since he seemed to be at least agitated; not even mentioning the back of his head being covered in something she couldn’t distinguish yet, since it was still patched with large plasters. The girl pulled onto her dress as she took a seat on the couch, keeping her legs tightly together, while carefully brushing the cloth over them as if she wanted to extend it from her knees down to the ankles, feeling cold and overexposed.

I am glad to see you could make it to the meet, he returned with two glasses of water, placing one in front of each of them as he took a seat on the armchair. I am sorry we have to do this here; I know it’s not professional at all, but I am a bit… Restricted from going places.

Does it have something to do with…? she found her mouth voicing her thoughts, motioning slightly towards the back of her head as she looked at him. The man looked down to the side and shifted in his seat, before confirming with a small nod.

Yes. This and a bit more of something else, but that is not the point of our talk. I invited you here, because I need your help.

If you caught again some alien and need to steal paperwork and research from me, then you’re out of luck.

Royce looked her in the eye thoughtfully, seeing her being stone cold with her statement, a proof that the past was not entirely forgotten or forgiven.

I haven’t caught anything. I have been suspended from my activity ever since the aliens left, along with the entire space research department and pretty much everything else that happened within the building that exploded.

There was a long moment of silence, in which Hamsika could read the graveness of the tone and the situation. She took her glass for a sip and felt the man hardly taking his eyes off her. The coldness and seriousness he usually carried was still there, unmistakable, ready to strike anytime shamelessly, but there was also something else lingering; a pleading thought, a desperation.

So, it’s true, she eventually replied, silently.

It is.

I suppose you laid off all those people. Why bring me back, with next to no experience, instead of offering someone else this chance, that could actually help you.

Because you are the only one, apart from me, that knows what really happened out there, his voice lowered almost to a whisper and the girl’s eyes widened at the statement, feeling her breath being suddenly stolen.

"Is it related to Them?" she moved closer to his armchair, unconsciously sliding on the couch towards it, while her mind was entirely absorbed by the possibility of him being in contact with the brothers.

Not entirely, but yes, it is. If we can manage to establish any way to track or contact them, it would be excellent, but my main problem right now is an escape plan.

An escape plan? she gulped, feeling it deep in her ears, like a drum.

"I suppose you have been told or rather warned by them of the dark veil."

I think we’re using different terms for the same thing, she frowned the slightest, trying to connect whatever sounded similar to his coded description of the issue. Is it the thing consuming our galaxy?

Exactly.

And you want an escape plan for that? she snorted, almost laughing in his face in disbelief. Unless you have a wormhole, also secretly developed in some lab of yours, then I doubt anything else would work.

That’s pretty much what’s this about, he leaned back in the armchair, his eyes still locked with hers, taking in the smallest details in her expression, while his fingers laced over his stomach, relaxed. He watched the girl trying to articulate anything, shocked by his idea, since she rather put it out on the table as a bitter joke.

That’s impossible.

What if I told you it’s not.

Prove it.

That’s why I need you.

This is insane… she murmured, staring at the polished stone-like surface of the table as she let herself slowly sink into the couch. When she got the interview invitation, she didn’t expect to find herself in his house, and clearly not expected to twist memories and revive dark thoughts, which she tried so hard to bury deep. She knew ever since the talk she had with Aries and Ryan, back at the cabin in the woods, that Earth stood right in the path of the growing mass of darkness, consisting mostly of black holes and things beyond her current understanding, but she never really tried to figure a way out of it, since it seemed impossible. However, hearing another person worrying about the same reason that gave her sleepless nights, made her somehow wake up and return to reality, from her small bubble of denial. There were clearly lots of variables Royce was aware of, but she knew how hard one could obtain information from him, if it wasn’t critical for the moment.

The girl looked up at him, to find his gaze still lingering on her, expecting an actual answer to his proposal. She saw his eyebrows raising the slightest in question, as she tried her best to calm the sudden tremble that caught her body.

What’s the deadline? she finally found herself asking, even if her mind was still split in a thousand directions.

As soon as possible.

Months? Years?! Give me a proper approximation! her voice trembled, watching him stand up with a frown, while his hand drifted to the patches around his head.

I wish I could say. I can’t even tell what’s the situation at this very moment.

What do you mean you can’t?! Then how do you want us to work? Blindly like moles?

I just told you they suspended me from any kind of activity. I am practically jailed, in my own house. Royce Robotics is slowly descending into ruins, while I will be forced to work for the government, a thing which I avoided my entire life!

Hamsika watched him soundlessly, pace around, speaking out angrily his thoughts. She felt her body going tense as she inhaled sharply when he turned her way.

I managed to gather a team of physicists and engineers, experts in the field, that could help us build something, he returned to the couch and crouched at its end, putting his forearms on its armrest, looking up at Hamsika who appeared downright terrified.

They would be the undisturbed development team, apart from the highly advanced war machines one, that would keep the government’s eyes busy. We would be the small strike team that’d save humanity.

His voice went lower and lower, close to a whisper as he spoke. The girl watched him stand back up and return to his seat, suddenly lost in thoughts, probably thinking of what else to say or even question his actions, since he seemed quite desperate about it all. Nothing much new really, since she knew him for having a weird temper, but it was still unpleasant to be around when he descended into such mood swings.

So… Let me see if I got your offer right, she started, trying her best to eliminate the tremble in her voice, as nervousness still crippled up her spine. You want me to join you and a specially built team, that would work into developing a way outside the galaxy, all somehow beneath the other’s noses?

Precisely.

Last time it didn’t work out well.

I learnt from my mistakes.

The girl gave him a skeptical look and began to measure inside her mind what was left to lose if she’d step into such a dirty business. She would most probably lose contact with her family even more, given the secrecy involved, she could get jailed if anything went wrong, since now it wasn’t only Royce trying to mask his mistakes, which also meant compromising all her life, studies and achievements so far. On the other hand, there was a chance they found a way out of the impending doom for the entire human race, whether that would happen during her lifetime or not, making her efforts count at least as a contribution to it. And last but not least, the slightest hope of getting in touch anyhow with the brothers was still something that lingered deep in her heart.

Fine.

Hm? he suddenly snapped out his thoughts too at the sound of the other’s voice.

Count me in, she stood up and stretched out her arm.

The man analyzed her gesture for a moment, then got up as well, shaking hands with Hamsika to mark the deal being made, at least at a symbolic level.

Should you need further details, don’t hesitate to ask.

Is it safe though?

Surely, not through emails and phone calls.

Then I am looking forward for our first day of collaboration, she smiled the slightest and after putting her bag back on the shoulder she walked to the door, closely followed by the other, who only nodded in agreement at her statement.

We are leaving next week.

Leaving? She suddenly halted before the still closed door, looking at him. He never really mentioned whether they’d be reclaiming the tech and space from Royce Robotics or have another place for their research activities.

An underground base was under development in the last years, across the ocean. It’s nearly done, awaiting us.

We’re leaving Europe? She mouthed silently, thinking of the distance she’d have now between herself and her family, making visits even more impossible to be achieved.

I will send you the departure details through email. Private jet. He gave her a wink, trying to ease out the tension.

But-.

Let me call you a cab.

Mr. Royce.

He raised his eyes from his phone at the sound of his name, his forehead creasing the slightest as his eyebrows raised at the other.

Nothing… She added, thinking that she will eventually find a way for it all, instead of worrying about everything at once. After all, it was a matter that affected more than just herself and her close ones, so selfishness had no place there.

The final destination is up to you. He flashed the smallest smile as he opened the door for her, having a car soon stop by the house.

Right. She returned the smile, just as small and slightly confused, waved a short good bye and made her way to the cab, trying her best to recollect her thoughts on her way back home, doing whatever she could to put everything she heard in order, because at that very moment it felt like she floated into a void, still engulfed in the sweet peach smell.

His footsteps sounded loud against the polished floor as he slowly walked towards the window, staring towards the backyard, into the still surface of the swimming pool. He had no idea when he would be back home and if the new shelter would be as nice and comfortable as he discussed on the designs with the architects and decorators at first. He did not lay eyes on the underground facility, only received 3D projects of the spaces, which he tried to organize the best he could, so that everyone would have the ultimate comfort. Avoiding the feeling of being trapped underground was the most difficult thing to achieve, and unless he wanted to have people leaving out of depression, he had to get everything done properly.

There was a bit less than a week left until they would all leave towards the new and classified research center, beneath the unfriendly, hot and deserted area. Everyone had contracts for just a year, after which they would be allowed to continue or resign; all apart from himself, who was forced to be there unless he wanted to face almost a lifetime worth of jail for all the illegalities performed within the laboratories.

It was all the little things that added weight to Lucien’s shoulders, more and more with each day that passed. He did in fact looked forward to start working again, to get his mind off all the rest of the issues that surrounded him for the last three years; all these on top of trying to adapt to his new enhancements, which stabilized his neuronal connections after being almost fried by the link with Aries. The implant in the back of his head, which went all the way down on his spine, sent impulses that balanced the neuronal activity, although it didn’t free him entirely of the awful headaches that occurred once in a while, mostly when he felt overwhelmed with emotions.

Royce lowered himself to a crouch, then let himself sit on the floor, while still looking outside thoughtfully, wondering if his plan would work. If they truly were to find a solution to escape the incoming doomsday, it would be the achievement of his life and nothing else that fell into ruins would matter anymore. He tried all the years past the Supernova event to set himself this as a goal, a reason to carry on with his research, no matter where he’d be or with what sacrifices it would have to be done. He needed resources, brilliant minds at his side, and if fate was merciful, some luck.

Convincing Hamsika to join the program was a big step ahead, since she could probably offer him a better insight into the cosmic related issues, as her area of expertise consisted of what he needed most; exotic space material and wormholes. He followed her activity at the university regularly by speaking to her teachers, and was pleased with how she evolved. He was convinced that whatever knowledge the alien must have given her, boosted her ideas greatly, and could all by herself perhaps figure more than his entire team of scientists managed to, during the time when Aries was trapped and harvested. The biggest advantage he had in his success of dragging her along into the madness, was the tech, about which they were both aware that it was the most advanced one could get; not mentioning the fact that they were both knowledgeable of the dark truth, which motivated them endlessly and made them jump into the crazy train, where they would toy with things still beyond their current understanding. Perhaps the end wasn’t ought to come in their lifetime, but they would’ve been maybe the only key to a new era for humanity, post-Earth, even if the plan was mostly in his head, and consisted of various crazy ideas that he hoped to achieve with the dark matter he gathered from the alien, alongside other elements.

Only few weeks of summer were left, which also was her remaining period allowed to stay at the dorm, since it followed her last year of studies, but considering the offer she accepted, she would have to worry about that aspect no longer. It did sound a bit peculiar, and working by Royce’s side once again, considering what happened in the past, wasn’t much to her liking, but on the other hand, he was the only one apart from her, aware of situation that loomed over their galaxy, and if there was anyone capable of understanding the gravity of certain matters, he’d have been that one. Being both knowledgeable of such, created the bridge strong enough to make them cooperate again, for the greater good. At least now, unlike her internship time, cards faced up, and she was almost certain that there was nothing else to it other than the truth.

Entering the heat of the room, she glanced around and took in all the details, as if it was her first and yet last time she’d be there. She let her bag on the chair nearby and tossed away her shoes, taking a deep breath. Taking further distance from her parents was just all that she didn’t need. She knew the sacrifice she’d make was for a greater good hopefully, but on the other hand she looked forward to going back home at least for a couple of months. She longed for a warm company, someone she could talk to about anything anytime, a shoulder she could cry on, though most probably they’d never understand her reasons to the core; all that she was burdened with as knowledge, all the past events, which mainly remained hidden from the public eye, masked by dirty lies of the various organizations, they all weighted at times more than she could bear and now that Royce awakened the reality beyond Earth within her mind once again, she felt an incoming wave of mixed feelings again.

She let herself collapse on the bed and covered her face with her hands, inhaling slowly through her fingers, in the hope that her thoughts would eventually choose to settle. Ever since the brothers left, loneliness creeped on her like a parasite and each time she got too much time on her hands which she didn’t busy with anything, the saddest thoughts and memories would endlessly replay before her eyes. The few months she spent with the two, and mostly with Ryan, were perhaps the happiest in her life; the joy of having who to share her love for science with, the endless debates about various subjects, and his very peculiar self,